Director Russell Catches Deadly Superbug

British director Ken Russell is infected with the deadly MRSA superbug,
which was discovered after he visited a hospital with back pains.

The TOMMY film-maker, 77, collapsed yesterday (16SEP04) and was rushed to
England's BUPA Southampton Hospital where doctors immediately tested him for
the infection and confirmed his stomach and back ache were caused by the
disease.

Russell says, "The worst thing was that I didn't know what was wrong with
me. There seemed to be no improvement in my condition and the pain just got
worse and worse.

"Tests were advised as there seemed to be no possible cause."

His wife ELISE adds, "I did fear for Ken's life. I could see that
overnight, an active, vital, brilliant, spirited person had bent double,
dissolved and was in the process of losing his ability to walk, talk, speak
coherently and want to live."